The Craig Test, also called the Ryder Test or Trochanteric Prominence Angle Test, is a clinical method used to estimate femoral anteversion by palpating the greater trochanter during prone hip rotation. It can provide useful context for hip rotation, gait, squat mechanics, in-toeing, out-toeing and lower-limb alignment, but it does not replace CT or MRI-based femoral version measurement. Results should be interpreted alongside hip rotation range of motion, movement assessment, symptoms, sport demands and, where needed, imaging.
Femoral version can influence hip rotation range, walking mechanics, squat position, running movement, knee alignment and sport-specific loading. Some clients naturally have more femoral anteversion, while others may have lower anteversion or relative retroversion.
The Craig Test is a practical clinical assessment used to estimate femoral anteversion. It is performed in prone with the knee flexed to 90 degrees while the examiner palpates the greater trochanter and rotates the hip until the greater trochanter is most prominent laterally.
The test can add useful context to hip and lower-limb assessment, but it should be interpreted cautiously. Femoral version is a structural measurement, and imaging-based methods such as CT or MRI are more precise when exact femoral version measurement is required. Research in people with chronic hip joint pain and asymptomatic controls found that Craig’s Test correlated with MRI-measured femoral version, but hip rotation range-of-motion variables also provided useful screening information.
Test name: Craig Test
Also known as: Craig’s Test, Ryder Test, Trochanteric Prominence Angle Test, TPAT
Region: Hip and femur
Test type: Clinical estimate of femoral anteversion / femoral version
Client position: Prone
Knee position: Flexed to approximately 90 degrees
Key action: Palpate the greater trochanter while rotating the hip
Measurement: Angle of the tibia/lower leg from vertical when the greater trochanter is most prominent laterally
Positive or notable finding: Higher or lower measured version compared with expected range, side-to-side difference or movement presentation
Best used with: Hip internal/external rotation ROM, gait, squat, running assessment and imaging when exact measurement is required
Key limitation: Clinical palpation does not replace CT or MRI-based femoral version assessment
The Craig Test is a clinical test used to estimate femoral anteversion.
Femoral anteversion describes the forward orientation of the femoral neck relative to the femoral condyles. Higher anteversion is often associated with greater available hip internal rotation and less external rotation. Lower anteversion or relative retroversion may be associated with less internal rotation and greater external rotation, although individual movement patterns vary.
The test is performed by:
placing the client in prone
flexing the knee to 90 degrees
palpating the greater trochanter
rotating the hip internally and externally
identifying the hip rotation position where the greater trochanter is most prominent laterally
measuring the angle of the tibia/lower leg from vertical
The test is commonly described as the Trochanteric Prominence Angle Test because the examiner uses the position of the greater trochanter to estimate when the femoral neck is parallel to the table.
The Craig Test is used to add structural and movement context.
It may help professionals understand why a client presents with:
increased hip internal rotation
limited hip external rotation
in-toeing gait
out-toeing gait
altered squat mechanics
dynamic knee valgus tendencies
patellofemoral loading concerns
hip impingement-like movement limitations
asymmetrical hip rotation
sport-specific movement differences
The test can help answer questions such as:
Does the client’s hip rotation pattern appear consistent with increased femoral anteversion?
Is one side meaningfully different from the other?
Are movement findings likely influenced by structural hip version?
Should training cues be adapted to the client’s available hip rotation?
Is imaging or medical review needed for exact structural measurement?
It should support assessment reasoning, not replace broader assessment.
The Craig Test estimates:
femoral anteversion
femoral version category
side-to-side femoral version difference
relationship between hip structure and hip rotation ROM
possible structural influence on lower-limb mechanics
It may provide context for:
hip internal rotation dominance
hip external rotation limitation
in-toeing
out-toeing
squatting mechanics
running mechanics
knee alignment
hip joint loading
patellofemoral loading
It does not directly assess or confirm:
hip pathology
femoroacetabular impingement
labral tear
hip dysplasia
patellofemoral pain cause
exact femoral torsion
need for imaging
readiness to return to sport
The Craig Test may be useful for:
exercise professionals
strength and conditioning coaches
allied health support teams
sport and performance staff
movement assessment professionals
students learning hip assessment
professionals using Measurz or MAT for structured assessment recording
It may be relevant for clients with:
hip rotation asymmetry
in-toeing or out-toeing gait
altered squat mechanics
knee valgus movement patterns
hip pain with rotation-based tasks
patellofemoral pain presentations
sport-specific cutting, landing or pivoting issues
suspected structural influence on movement
unexplained differences between left and right hip rotation
It may be less useful if the assessment question is primarily pain provocation, acute injury diagnosis or return-to-sport clearance.
Use the Craig Test when you want to estimate whether femoral version may be influencing hip rotation or lower-limb movement.
It may be used during:
hip assessment
lower-limb movement screening
gait assessment
running assessment
squat or lunge assessment
in-toeing or out-toeing review
patellofemoral pain assessment
hip rotation asymmetry assessment
sport movement review
reassessment after technique changes
The test may be especially useful when hip ROM findings show:
much more internal rotation than external rotation
much more external rotation than internal rotation
large side-to-side asymmetry
hip rotation findings that affect exercise setup or sport technique
Use caution when the client has:
acute hip trauma
suspected fracture
severe hip pain
recent surgery without appropriate clearance
inability to lie prone
severe knee pain limiting knee flexion
high irritability with passive hip rotation
symptoms that worsen sharply during testing
neurological or systemic symptoms requiring further assessment
Avoid over-interpreting the test when:
palpation is difficult
body composition limits landmark confidence
hip rotation is painful or guarded
the client cannot relax
the examiner cannot reliably identify the greater trochanter
exact femoral version is required
When exact structural measurement matters, imaging-based assessment is more appropriate.
Required:
firm plinth or mat
goniometer or inclinometer
Measurz recording workflow
Optional:
digital inclinometer
smartphone inclinometer app
skin marker for landmarks
towel support for comfort
hip ROM record
gait or movement video notes
A study comparing goniometer and inclinometer methods noted that locating and maintaining the greater trochanter position can be difficult, especially while also controlling hip rotation and measuring the tibial angle.
Explain the purpose of the test.
Example wording:
“We are going to estimate the rotational position of your femur by feeling where the greater trochanter becomes most prominent during hip rotation. This does not diagnose a condition or replace imaging, but it can help us understand your hip rotation and movement pattern.”
Position the client:
prone
hips neutral
pelvis level
tested knee flexed to 90 degrees
opposite leg relaxed
trunk relaxed
head and arms comfortable
Check that:
the pelvis is not rotating
the hip is not abducted or adducted excessively
the client can relax the tested leg
knee flexion does not cause pain
Stand beside the tested hip.
You need to be able to:
palpate the greater trochanter
rotate the hip by moving the lower leg
maintain knee flexion
observe or measure tibial angle
avoid forcing the hip into painful rotation
Common hand placement:
one hand palpates the greater trochanter
the other hand controls the distal tibia or ankle
the hip is rotated internally and externally until the greater trochanter is most prominent laterally
The palpating hand should stay on the greater trochanter throughout the movement.
Move the lower leg to rotate the hip:
moving the foot outward generally creates hip internal rotation
moving the foot inward generally creates hip external rotation
Continue rotating until the greater trochanter feels most prominent laterally. This is interpreted as the point where the femoral neck is positioned most horizontally.
At the point where the greater trochanter is most prominent:
stop the movement
hold the limb still
measure the angle of the tibia/lower leg from vertical
record the angle in degrees
record whether the angle is toward internal or external rotation
repeat for reliability if appropriate
Use the same measurement tool and method at retest.
For repeatability:
perform one gentle familiarisation trial
perform two or three measured trials
record each trial
use the average or most consistent value
repeat on the other side
record side-to-side difference
The Craig Test is not usually interpreted as a simple positive or negative pain test.
A notable finding may be:
increased estimated femoral anteversion
decreased estimated femoral anteversion
relative femoral retroversion
meaningful side-to-side difference
finding that matches hip rotation ROM pattern
finding that explains movement strategy or alignment
An unremarkable finding may be:
estimated version within expected adult range
no meaningful side-to-side difference
measurement does not appear to explain the movement finding
result is unclear due to palpation or guarding limitations
Stop the test if:
hip pain increases sharply
the client cannot tolerate prone position
knee pain limits the setup
the client guards strongly
the greater trochanter cannot be palpated confidently
the result will not be reliable
further assessment is more appropriate
A notable Craig Test result may suggest that femoral version could be influencing movement or hip rotation.
A higher estimated anteversion may be associated with:
greater hip internal rotation
reduced hip external rotation
in-toeing tendency
squatting or landing with more internally rotated femur
altered patellofemoral loading context
A lower estimated anteversion or relative retroversion may be associated with:
reduced hip internal rotation
greater hip external rotation
out-toeing tendency
earlier bony or movement limitation in deep flexion or rotation tasks
altered hip loading context
These are associations, not diagnoses.
An unremarkable Craig Test result may suggest that femoral version is less likely to be a major contributor to the movement or ROM finding.
However, this does not rule out:
hip joint pathology
soft tissue restriction
motor control strategy
pain-related guarding
sport-specific movement adaptation
other structural contributors
The Craig Test does not prove:
hip diagnosis
labral pathology
femoroacetabular impingement
hip dysplasia
patellofemoral pain source
structural abnormality requiring intervention
exact femoral version
return-to-sport readiness
Example wording:
“Your Craig Test suggests your hip structure may allow more internal rotation on this side. That does not diagnose a problem, but it may help explain why some positions feel more natural than others and why we may adjust exercise setup or technique.”
Sensitivity and specificity are not usually the best way to describe the Craig Test because it is not a diagnostic provocation test for a disease. It is a clinical estimate of femoral version.
Research comparing Craig’s Test with MRI-measured femoral version found a moderate relationship. In people with chronic hip joint pain and matched controls, Craig’s Test correlated with MRI femoral version at r = 0.61, while hip internal rotation at 90 degrees and the difference between internal and external rotation also correlated with MRI version. The authors concluded that hip rotation ROM and Craig’s Test may be used for screening when imaging is not indicated.
This means Craig’s Test may help screen or estimate femoral version context, but it should not be treated as a precise replacement for imaging.
CT and MRI are commonly used to quantify femoral version when exact measurement is required. A 2020 comparison study stated that CT and MRI can be useful for accurate quantitative analysis, while Craig’s Test remains a commonly used physical examination method in clinical practice.
High-quality sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratio values for Craig’s Test as a stand-alone classifier of excessive anteversion or retroversion are not consistently established for routine clinical use.
For Measurz interpretation:
Do not claim the test diagnoses femoral anteversion abnormality.
Do not use it as a pass/fail test.
Use it as a clinical estimate.
Compare with hip rotation ROM and movement findings.
Consider imaging when exact femoral version matters.
Craig Test reliability and validity depend heavily on examiner skill, landmark palpation and measurement method.
A reliability study noted that Craig’s Test is widely used but can be difficult because the examiner must palpate the greater trochanter, maintain hip rotation and measure the tibial angle at the same time. This can affect consistency between examiners.
A 2013 study reported that a wide range of intra-rater and inter-rater reliability values had been reported for the Trochanteric Prominence Angle Test and compared it with an alternative transcondylar angle method using a smartphone as a measurement tool.
A 2018 controlled laboratory study found that Craig’s Test had a moderate correlation with MRI-measured femoral version and that hip rotation ROM variables also related to femoral version categories.
Reliability is stronger when you standardise:
client prone position
knee flexion angle
hip neutral starting position
pelvis control
palpation landmark
measurement tool
tibial reference line
number of trials
examiner training
side order
recording method
Validity is stronger when Craig Test findings match:
hip internal/external rotation pattern
gait or foot progression angle
squat or lunge mechanics
running mechanics
symptoms and function
imaging findings where available
Evidence level: Level 2 — practical benchmark guidance is available, but values should be used as context rather than strict pass/fail thresholds.
Adult femoral anteversion is often described as commonly sitting around 8–15 degrees, but published values vary depending on age, method, imaging technique and reference standard. Educational summaries note that femoral anteversion decreases with growth and that adult averages are commonly lower than childhood values.
Use reference values cautiously because femoral version differs by:
age
sex
measurement method
imaging protocol
sport
activity history
ethnicity
hip symptoms
developmental history
side-to-side variation
Practical interpretation guidance:
Compare left and right sides.
Compare Craig Test with hip IR and ER ROM.
Compare with gait, squat and sport movement.
Record whether the result explains the movement pattern.
Use imaging when exact measurement matters.
Do not label a result abnormal based on one clinical estimate alone.
Common errors include:
treating the test as diagnostic
calling femoral anteversion “pathology”
not recording the measured angle
not recording side tested
not controlling pelvic rotation
failing to keep the knee at 90 degrees
palpating the wrong landmark
forcing the hip into painful rotation
measuring from an inconsistent vertical reference
using different tools across sessions
comparing results without noting examiner or method
ignoring hip ROM and movement findings
Limitations include:
palpation can be difficult
inter-rater reliability may vary
hip pain or guarding can affect results
body composition can make landmarks harder to identify
the test estimates rather than directly measures femoral version
CT or MRI is more precise for structural measurement
sensitivity and specificity are not well established for routine classification
movement is influenced by more than femoral version alone
The Craig Test may help with:
hip rotation interpretation
exercise setup decisions
squat stance education
running and gait analysis context
lower-limb alignment assessment
in-toeing or out-toeing interpretation
side-to-side comparison
sport movement discussion
referral reasoning when structural measurement is important
Examples:
A client with high internal rotation, limited external rotation and a higher Craig Test angle may naturally prefer narrower or internally rotated positions.
A client with lower internal rotation, more external rotation and a lower Craig Test angle may need different squat, lunge or cutting setup options.
An athlete with asymmetrical Craig Test findings may need side-specific interpretation rather than being forced into identical movement cues.
The Craig Test is most useful when it helps explain movement options and guides individualised setup, not when used to label the client as abnormal.
Record:
test name: Craig Test / Ryder Test / Trochanteric Prominence Angle Test
side tested: left or right
client position: prone
knee angle: approximately 90 degrees
hip starting position
measurement tool: goniometer, inclinometer or smartphone inclinometer
measured angle in degrees
direction: anteversion estimate, neutral or retroversion estimate
trial values
selected value: best, average or most consistent
side-to-side difference
pain during test: yes/no
pain score if relevant
palpation confidence
guarding or compensation
pelvic movement
examiner notes
related hip ROM:
hip internal rotation at 90 degrees
hip external rotation at 90 degrees
hip IR/ER difference
hip rotation in neutral if assessed
related movement findings:
gait
squat
lunge
running
landing
symptoms and body region
dominance if relevant
imaging findings if available
interpretation notes
retest date if monitoring
referral or further assessment notes if appropriate
Recording these details improves:
repeatability
communication
client education
assessment reasoning
movement interpretation
team consistency
reporting quality
The Craig Test estimates femoral anteversion by palpating the greater trochanter during prone hip rotation and measuring the lower-leg angle when the trochanter is most prominent laterally.
Yes. Craig Test and Ryder Test are commonly used names for the same femoral anteversion assessment. It is also called the Trochanteric Prominence Angle Test.
No. It can estimate femoral version clinically, but it does not replace CT or MRI when exact structural measurement is required.
Adult femoral anteversion is often described around 8–15 degrees, but normal values vary by age, sex, method and population. Use values as context rather than strict pass/fail cut-offs.
Reliability can vary. It improves when the examiner standardises prone position, knee angle, greater trochanter palpation, measurement tool and trial method. Inter-examiner reliability may be affected by landmark palpation difficulty.
A study found Craig’s Test had a moderate correlation with MRI-measured femoral version. It may be useful for screening when imaging is not indicated, but it is not a direct substitute for MRI.
They may guide individualised setup. For example, hip version may help explain why some squat, lunge or running positions feel more natural. Results should be combined with symptoms, strength, ROM and movement quality.
The Craig Test estimates femoral anteversion clinically.
It is performed prone with the knee flexed to approximately 90 degrees.
The examiner palpates the greater trochanter and measures the lower-leg angle when the trochanter is most prominent laterally.
It can support interpretation of hip rotation, gait, squat and lower-limb alignment.
It does not diagnose hip pathology or replace CT/MRI-based femoral version measurement.
Reliability depends on palpation skill, positioning, measurement tool and repeatability.
Measurz should record side, angle, tool, trials, palpation confidence, hip ROM, movement findings and interpretation notes.
Choi, B.-R., Kang, S.-Y., & Hwang, Y.-I. (2015). Intra- and inter-examiner reliability of goniometer and inclinometer use in Craig’s test. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 27(4), 1141–1144. https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.27.1141
Kim, H.-Y., Lee, S.-K., Lee, N.-K., Choy, W.-S., & Lee, D.-H. (2020). Differences between Craig’s test and computed tomography in measuring femoral anteversion. Journal of Physical Therapy Science / related open-access clinical measurement literature. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7276780/
Lewis, C. L., & Sahrmann, S. A. (2015). Acetabular labral tears. Physical Therapy, 86(1), 110–121. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/86.1.110
Souza, R. B., & Powers, C. M. (2009). Concurrent criterion-related validity and reliability of a clinical test to measure femoral anteversion. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 39(8), 586–592. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2009.2996
Uding, A., Bloom, N. J., Commean, P. K., Hillen, T. J., Patterson, J. D., Clohisy, J. C., & Harris-Hayes, M. (2019). Clinical tests to determine femoral version category in people with chronic hip joint pain and asymptomatic controls. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 39, 115–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msksp.2018.12.003
Yoo, J.-H., et al. (2013). A comparison of the reliability of the trochanteric prominence angle test and the transcondylar angle test for femoral neck anteversion. Manual Therapy, 18(6), 484–488. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.math.2013.05.005
